Monsters University (2013)

Monsters University Synopsis

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right.

Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s Monsters University is directed by Dan Scanlon (Cars, Mater and the Ghostlight, Tracy,), produced by Kori Rae (Up, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc.) and features music from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 3 ). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters.

Directed by Kelsey Mann, a story supervisor on Monsters University, Party Central follows the nerdy brothers of Oozma Kappa as they try to throw a big on-campus shindig. Being as unpopular as they are, however, when the time comes for the event to start, nobody shows up.

While this wide range of awards leaves the opportunity for many films and 3D technicians to garner a bit of acclaim, the big names this year are the Creative Awards' contenders for Best Live-Action 3D Feature: Gravity, The Great Gatsby, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, Oz the Great and Powerful, and Star Trek Into Darkness.

The six-minute short begins as Mike (Billy Crystal), Sully (John Goodman) and the rest of the Oozma Kappa frat try to throw an on-campus party, but find that the idea is a complete bust when nobody shows up due to a competing bash at Roar Omega Roar.

To be expected, the foreign films are the meatier bits, and the clear frontrunner to me is Hayao Miyazaki’s historical fantasy The Wind Rises - even though I haven’t seen it yet. It’s the last film for the legendary director, whose Spirited Away took the prize back in 2001.

Much of the joy found in Monsters University comes from its nods to its predecessor. Peppered into the new plot are plenty of characters from Pixar’s original film. Randy Boggs has a pretty big role in the new movie, and The Abominable Snowman and Roz also make an appearance. Monsters University works as a standalone film, but its loving winks to its precursor work for fans with fond memories of the original.

Pixar’s been churning out sequels and prequels a lot more often in recent years. Some have been a little more well-received than others, but regardless of where you might place Monsters University in the Pixar canon, very few people would claim it isn’t at minimum an extremely enjoyable ride.

Don't cry for Disney. Thanks to the wild success of their first three releases of 2013, they've become the first studio this year to gross a billion dollars at the domestic box office. And just think how much more they are making in merchandizing.

Channing Tatum... Jamie Foxx... Sandra Bullock... Melissa McCarthy... Those were the big names being tossed around television and internet commercials this week, but they didn't grab as much attention as two others: Mike and Sully.

To put it kindly, Cars 2 wasn’t good. And their subsequent films haven’t been as good either. While the studio’s films continue to make gobs of cash, nearly everyone agrees they aren’t as good as they once were. Even they seem to see that there’s a problem. So they’re making changes.

Sulley is entering classroom A113 on the campus of Monsters University. That, of course, is an inside-joke reference to a CalArts classroom that housed several of the Pixar artists during their formative years. The numerical sequence has found its way into every Pixar film to date, and Monsters U. is no different.

Pixar appeared to have yet another hit on its hands Thursday when early previews had some forecasters predicting opening totals between $65 million and $70 million for Monsters University. The sequel to Monsters Inc. actually came in at number one with $82 million, handing the studio its second highest opening weekend behind Toy Story 3's $110 million debut three years ago.

Pixar has been releasing all of their films in 3D for the last few years, and nearly every time they do it perfectly. But hey, every streak must come to an end (how else can you explain Cars 2)? So even though Monsters University is earning positive reviews in advance of its release this weekend, it's still fair to ask: is the extra cost for the 3D ticket worth it?

A few weeks ago I had the chance to fly up to Emeryville, California for a Monsters University press day at Pixar headquarters and got to sit down one-on-one with the rising comedic actor. Check out our conversation inside in which we talk not only about his terrific part in the new animated feature, but also the future of It’s Always Sunny, possibly collaborating with co-stars Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton on a film project, and the importance of the message in his new movie.

This week we're still puzzling over the Man of Steel critical response, and why so many people seemed to only want to reviews they already agreed with. We also talk about Pixar's so-called winning streak, the video game The Last of Us, Kanye West's new album Yeezus, and animated films that we really want to see get a prequel

Today is the day to put all of your daddy issues aside and celebrate the guy who was half responsible for bringing you into this world. In honor of those fathers out there we’ve got zombies taking over the world and monsters heading off to college

Mike (Billy Crystal) still arrives at college ready to study scaring. He butts heads with Sulley (John Goodman), a natural scarer from a long line of scarers. And the mismatched duo must compete in – and win – the dreaded Scare Games when they get themselves into hot water with the vicious Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren), who doesn’t really believe in the potential of either monster.

Directed by Dan Scanlon, the prequel follows Mike and Sully as they both enter the titular school looking to become scarers. The two end up fighting for rank socially and academically, but when an in-class accident causes them to both be kicked out of the scaring program, they have no choice but to team up, prove their worth, and fight their way back in.

Iron Man 3 is an enormous hit right now, nearing $1 billion at the worldwide box office and ruling the American charts for the second weekend in a row. The Great Gatsby opened just last week and managed to stun nearly everybody by making $51 million. Summer movies are there to entertain us, sure, but they're really all about the money, and even more than we want to know the true identity of Star Trek's villain or what's really going on in Edgar Wright's The World's End

School may be out for the summer in June, but classes are in session at Disney next month when Monsters University arrives in theaters. And something tells me, kids and grown-ups alike will be happy to attend classes with Sulley, Mike Wazowski and the rest of their scary pals. Speaking of classes, the latest still from the Monsters Inc. prequel shows Mike and Sulley in school, surrounded by their fellow scaring pupils.

Walt Disney World has its eye on you, "so get ready to be scared!." In all likelihood, the sight of Monsters University's Mike Wazowski staring down at Epcot visitors from the iconic Spaceship Earth ball will make people laugh more than it'll make people scream. But it'll also likely remind people that the Monsters Inc. prequel is headed into theaters on June 21. The film will take us back to when monsters Mike and Sulley were both just starting out in their training as Scarers at Monsters University.

Since this sequel to Monsters Inc. was announced, we've been promised a story that would reveal how Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) met and became best friends. The film's first teasers suggested these two did not initially hit it off.

Cars 2 failed to live up to standards and expectations, and while Brave had greatness within it, it also lacked the certain creative spark that the studio has become renowned for. With Monsters University, however, Pixar seems to be back on track.

A new gallery has launched that shows off all of the fraternities and sororities of the upcoming animated prequel, and in turn also delivers some images of characters both old and new. Check out a few of them inside!

Ah, the good ol' fashioned college prank. It's a staple of cinema from Animal House to Van Wilder to Revenge of the Nerds, it's a true staple of the college comedy genre - so it just makes sense that Monsters University would want to get in on the action as well.

Sure, we like it too when Pixar commits to telling original stories instead of their distressing recent trend of churning out sequels. But there's something just so damn likable about the marketing so far for Monsters University, the upcoming prequel to what was itself one of Pixar's most likable movies, Monsters, Inc.

Monsters University reveals how Mike and Sulley met in college. And while we all know they grew to be deeply bonded best friends, things between the two started out rough with each trying desperately to get into the esteemed university's exclusive Scare Program.

Though Pixar did a remarkable job building up the universe of professional monsters in the original Monsters, Inc., they're managing to seriously outdo themselves based on our early looks at Monsters University, the prequels coming to theaters this summer. Every new trailer or TV spot has featured some wildly colored and new beast (a cuddly beast!)...

Monsters University, the new prequel that's set to be released by Pixar this summer, has been largely sold to us as being the story of how Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) first met in college, but it presents a lot of other opportunities as well: namely introducing us to a whole new group of characters.

Open the door to your future on a campus that embraces students of all shapes and sizes with a wide range of interests and passions. If you venture on to the University's website, you'll discover a comprehensive look into the world of Monster's University.

After twelve years of waiting, Monsters, Inc. fans will soon finally get a chance to revisit the lives of their favorite CGI monsters, albeit in the years before we originally got to know them. Monsters University finally comes out on June 21, though it might as well be on the far side of never, considering how powerful impatience can be.

Ever since Cars 2, just saying the words “Pixar” and “sequel” together can make a spine twinge. But Monsters University is definitely on track to change that, especially considering Monsters, Inc. was so much more beloved than the original Cars. Mike and Sully made being scary one of the funniest things of 2001

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to know absolutely everything they can about a movie before walking into the theater, and those who try to keep themselves away from tiny details or big plot elements. If you belong in the latter group then you might want to turn away now, as director Dan Scanlon is about to explain a whole lotta things about Monsters University.

When the viral campaign for Pixar's Monsters University began back in October it did so with a boom. In promotion of next summer's film, the studio set up MonstersUniversity.com, a fully-functional college website for the fictional school. The attention to detail is outstanding on the site, featuring not only images from around campus, but also class details, a school store, the history of the university, and a letter from President Victoria Gross.

The first day of a new year is a cause for optimism. So it's fitting that Pixar, who received mixed reviews on their 2012 release Brave, is looking to put their best foot forward with some tantalizing teases for their forthcoming slate of animated features.

With Monsters Inc. returning to theaters in glorious 3D, it's a good time to start getting nostalgic about the 2001 Pixar hit-- for many us, the first film from that studio that really proved how brilliant they could be. But soon Pixar is going to be asking us to look even further in the past with Monsters University

In Pixar's beloved animated adventure Monsters, Inc., professional scaring team Mike Wazowski and James P. "Sully" Sullivan are the very best of friends. But where did this deep bond of brotherhood and beastliness form? Well, that question will be the subject of the upcoming prequel Monsters University.

The first little treat comes courtesy of Wreck-It Ralph, the new video game inspired film from Walt Disney Animation Studios that takes the audience inside the world of video games as the titular character (John C. Reilly) tries to transform himself from a villain into a hero.

Prepare to scream...with laughter! It's now been 11 years since the release of Pixar's Monsters Inc. and if you're like me you've been waiting that entire time for a sequel. Mike and Sully, voiced by Billy Crystal and John Goodman, are some of the best lead characters that the animation company has produced and the idea of learning about their origin just sounds like an incredible amount of fun. So allow me to introduce all of you to Monsters University.

“I don’t know how much I can say on that one except it’s a really cool role that I can’t wait for people to see, but I’m sure it’s at least two years out, maybe a year and a half at best,” Tudyk said. So, what does Pixar have on their 2013 schedule? Tudyk could be talking about the Monsters prequel, Monsters University, or the untitled dinosaur or brain features Pixar teased at D23

Monsters University, the prequel to 2001’s Monsters, Inc. is still very much in the early development stages and isn’t scheduled to be released until the summer of 2013, but today the crowds in the arena at the D23 Expo got a sneak peek at the upcoming Pixar sequel.

During Pixar’s Saturday panel at D23 Expo 2011, the animation studio revealed details on two planned features. The first announced feature, currently operating under the tongue-in-cheek title of The Untitled Pixar Movie About Dinosaurs, will be directed by Bob Peterson. The second feature, still in its earliest stage, was referenced as The Untitled Pixar Movie That Takes You Inside The Mind.

As other critics try to figure out exactly where Cars 2 fails, and what it means that Pixar has ended their decade-plus perfect batting average, I've got five suggestions for how they can move forward from here and keep the Pixar flame alive

The year 2012 is already set to be an incredible one for the folks at Pixar. In addition to launching a new original animated film with Brave, the studio is also making their debut in the live-action world with John Carter of Mars. Unfortunately, it looks as though they may have gotten a little overwhelmed as another 2012 Pixar project has just been pushed back to 2013.

We don't know much about the movie yet, beyond the fact that longtime Pixar animator Dan Scanlon will be directing, and Billy Crystal and John Goodman will be back to voice Mike and Sully as the two monsters meet in training school in their younger days. Yes, it's going to be yet another effort at a franchise from Pixar

Longtime Pixar story artist Dan Scanlon will helm the film. He’s previously handled the short Mater and Ghostlight, but it’ll be interesting to see what he does with more screen time. I’d never underestimate the importance of a director, but with Pixar being such a collaborative studio, it would seem a perfect place for a first timer to find his legs.